Snuggle Up! Original Nursing Pillow Review

At a glance:

The Snuggle! Up Nursing Pillow makes a really difference – the U-shaped pillow hooks around your waist, supporting your baby and taking the pressure of you whilst you feed.

What they say:

“The Snuggle Up! Original Nursing Pillow supports baby correctly during feeding time and can be used all the way from the very early stages of pregnancy right through to the crawling period. It eases the back pressure during the latter stages of pregnancy and relieves pressure on your arms while feeding.”

Tested by mum Gina Forde for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

Yes, this product makes life easier when breastfeeding. As a new mum, breastfeeding was a big learning curve for both me and baby and I didn’t realise how much strain it was putting on my arms and back. This pillow takes all that strain away! I had spinal surgery a couple of years ago and this has proved invaluable in easing the tension I get in my lower back. Also, it is very practical, as the pillow hugs the waist, it doesn't move around. Having trialled the product for a few months, I am pleased to say that it is very durable, has held its shape perfectly and is so comfortable.

How did this product make your life easier?

I think this is a relatively inexpensive product compared to others on the market and can be used in so many different ways. For example, support for sleeping and getting comfortable during pregnancy, as a feeding tool to support the back and free up your arms, or for baby support during tummy time. I found the colour and material (black, velvety suede) so comfortable and soft and the filling of the cushion gives the perfect balance of support. It has a removable cover for ease of washing and an anti-allergenic filling - perfect for baby.

Would you choose this product to win?

I would choose this product above all others on the market for its sheer versatility. It can be used during pregnancy as a sleep support aid between the legs and around the head and neck. It's a fantastic tool for feeding, allowing arms to be free, and can be used during the first few weeks of tummy time as a support whilst they gain neck strength. Throughout all of this, it holds its shape in its entirety. It’s amazing!

What changes would you make to this product?

The only thing I would say is that the material lends itself to staining easily, but that is the best I can come up with as it is such an awesome product.

Tested by mum Jodie Russell for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

Yes, it’s very soft and spongy which is nice, as my daughter seems supported and my arm and elbow are very comfy. The cushion isn’t a hideous colour or pattern, it’s neutral and blends in which I love. It’s so soft that my little one has happily fallen asleep on this cushion for over an hour! This is not a weighted pillow so it feels light when resting on me.

How did this product make your life easier?

Since I have started using this product, I have stopped getting a dead arm or backache and she is so comfortable that I don’t need to move position whilst feeding her. This is honestly a Godsend!

Would you choose this product to win?

I would choose this product to win but I think it should be more like £15 rather than £20. That is my only criticism however, as this product has been so useful for me!

What changes would you make to this product?

I think the cushion cover should perhaps be waterproof so that I can wipe it clean if baby is sick.

Tested by mum Kaiya Riddlestone for the Mother & Baby awards 2018:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend this product to more petite mums as it would fit them well. For me, it was a bit small. However, the material is lovely and soft for baby and very comforting. I'd recommend a nursing pillow to everyone, especially if you have a bad back, as this pillow helps both mum and baby get comfy while feeding.

How did this product make your life easier?

This really helped support me whilst baby was breastfeeding, as usually I get a sore back and my arm becomes stiff. I loved this pillow but it didn’t fit me, as a larger woman, and I would love to see a larger size!

Would you choose this product to win?

Not personally, as it wasn’t right for my body shape. But I’m sure it would work effectively for a lot of women.

What changes would you make to this product?

The design of the product does make it easier for feeding your baby, but it was not designed for plus size women who are curvier. They could extend the length so that it would fit women like me better.

Tested by mum Laura Inglesby for the M&B Awards 2017:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

This cushion is fantastic. My baby absolutely loves it. It makes feeding (either breast or bottle) much easier and means you can support your own back and their head leaving hands free. It also has a subtle lavender smell which is lovely and seems to really calm the baby. My baby falls asleep in this all the time and seems so comfortable.

How did this product make your life easier?

My baby loves to lie on this cushion and it is great for tummy time too! She really likes being propped up on it to see what is going on around her. I think we will get lots of use out of the cushion particularly when she is learning to sit up, it will provide great support. As an added bonus my toddler loves it too!

Would you choose this product to win?

I really rate this product. The material feels super soft. It is finished really well and the cover is easily removed for machine washing. It feels very high quality especially with the lavender infused filling. I also think it would be useful in pregnancy as a back support or sleeping aid. It isn't that expensive especially compared to some of the baby support cushions out on the market and this has multiple uses.

What changes would you make to this product?

I think it would be nice if it came in some other designs or patterns. Only plain colours are available at present. Perhaps the lavender smell could also be a little stronger, you can't really smell it unless your head is right on the pillow and even then it's very faint. Other than that though it is great!

Tested by mum Lauren Stanley-Evans for the M&B Awards 2017:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

A nursing pillow is invaluable in the early days when establishing breastfeeding as your arms soon begin to ache with the constant holding. This is where the Snuggle Up nursing pillow comes in. The pillow is very pliable which is great as often I have found pillows too hard and look uncomfortable for my little boy to lie on whilst feeding. , has a gorgeous soft outer cover which is also removable for washing, and the right height to be able to feed him properly. I would recommend this product.

How did this product make your life easier?

I have found myself reaching for the Snuggle Up Pillow over other pillows that I have while feeding my little boy as it seems much softer for him to lie on thanks to the outer cover, which is also washable, essential for constant milk slippages (or maybe that's just me!) and has the consistency of something like a bean bag meaning if mounds to his shape. This pillow has saved my arms from aching on long night feeds and during his mammoth cluster feeding sessions! It is also very good value for money and I would recommend.

Would you choose this product to win?

I like this pillow as it balances value for money with quality and design. I am a larger person and it goes round me easily, unlike unlike some of the other pillows in the range which are more rigid and don't fit around me. I like the soft cover, as I think it is kinder for my little boy to lie on, and it can be removed for washing. Some of the other pillows are far more expensive and yet don't provide such a reliable support when you are breastfeeding. I also like that it is comfortable to lie on for the baby and not too heavy so easy to transport.

What changes would you make to this product?

The colours are all very pale pastel colours which is fine but some other designs might be better both for us as parents and for little ones whose eye sight can only see stark colours (eg black and white). Also once you have removed the cover it is sometimes difficult to get it back on again and this is quite stressful when you have a baby who is crying and wants to feed. The only other problem is that the zip sticks out and I was worried this might hurt a little one if it got trapped underneath them.

Tested by mum Kay Brown for the M&B Awards 2017:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would definitely recommed the Snuggle Up Pillow to a friend/fellow mum. I've frequently struggled with maintaining a good latch and this pillow has been really good at keeping my little one in place and reducing discomfort because of this. We've also used it to prop him up to interact and used it as a barrier to stop him from rolling off the sofa when he's laid next to us.

How did this product make your life easier?

The Snuggle Up Pillow makes my life easier as a mum as it helps keep my baby in the right position which allows me to relax my shoulders more and can often leave me hands free so I'm able to eat whilst he's cluster feeding, respond to texts and read. It allows me to be me as well as being my baby's source of food. The ability to multitask during feeding is something that can't be underestimated really.

Would you choose this product to win?

I would choose this product above others in the category because it's affordable, has multiple uses, is just the right size without being too big and it's lovely and soft. Compared to a similar item my partner bought from Mamas and Papas, which was more expensive, this pillow is much better at keeping its shape and is softer against my baby's skin.

What changes would you make to this product?

The only thing I would change about this product is that I would include a spare cover. My baby feeds a fair bit (as they do!) and is increasingly dribbling so we'll need to wash the cover soon and I wouldn't want to use the pillow without a cover. It would be great to see additional covers with varying designs too rather than just plain colours.

Tested by mum Valerie Nixon for the M&B Awards 2017:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

I would recommend the Snuggle Up Pillow to friends. It is a great support when feeding your baby. It helps my baby feel supported, safe and comfortable whilst feeding. The colour and material is great. It is very soft and cosy on delicate skin. The vivid purple is very attractive. It makes a nice change from pastle baby colours.

How did this product make your life easier?

This product makes life easier in 2 ways. It firstly provides great support when feeding it allows you to feed with one arm. The arm you do use when feeding is supported so also doesn't tire as easily. Secondly, this product makes a great baby seat. My little girl loves sitting up now but can't support herself. So I sit her in the pillow and we can either play together or she can see what I’m doing.

Would you choose this product to win?

It is functional, practical, portable and attractive. All my family have commented on how nice it looks. It feels it has been designed with both mum and baby in mind. Other feeding pillows can feel ridgid and starchy but this is soft and luxurious to touch.

What changes would you make to this product?

I found it really hard to criticise the Snuggle Up Pillow. I honestly feel it is way ahead of its competitors. The only thing I am unsure of is how it would be if you put the cover in the washing machine. I have wiped it with a damp cloth and it came up fine, but I am unable to comment on the softness after a washing machine wash.

Tested by mum Elizabeth Huntley for the M&B Awards 2017:

Would you recommend this to other mums?

The Snuggle Up Pillow is so super soft, it felt lovely for my baby to lie on and she seemed really comfy, lovely material, as think some of the materials can feel quite cold to lie a baby on but this was just so super soft and cuddly feeling. Love that after I'd finished feeding my baby I could sit her in the pillow and she's nod off and was well supported.

How did this product make your life easier?

This makes my life easier as I have a spare hand as my baby rests on the pillow for her feed so she doesn't have to be constantly supported, so means I can help my other children to a degree rather than having no hands free. And it takes pressure off my back as feel I'm not been hunched over, so I'm more supported by having the pillow.

Would you choose this product to win?

I do think it's a great product, especially as my baby seems so comfy on it, love that you can get different colours in it to match your room. All our family have benefited from the pillow, my other children have sat with it round them and my husbands used it as a pillow on the sofa, we all actually fight over it now it's so comfy.

What changes would you make to this product?

The zip seems slightly weak on it, for in zipping to wash the fabric, and when I have the pillow round me it doesn't quiet go round to my back it sort of sits on my sides which I find a bit irritating I'd rather have it right round me, and I'm not huge so maybe it could be made slightly bigger, but then it does fit my baby perfect when I rest her in it after her feed.